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Audi is a popular German luxury automaker that’s well-known for making some high-quality cars, but the luxury car segment is very competitive. In fact, there are three Audi SUVs that were beaten by its rivals. Here’s a look at those three relatively bad Audi SUVs, as well as the luxury SUVs that are better than them.

Blue 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron - This electric Audi SUV is posed in front of an autumn tree with leaves that have changed colors.
2023 Audi Q4 e-tron electric Audi SUV | Audi

1. 2023 Audi e-tron

J.D. Power published its list of the ‘Best Upper Midsize Premium SUVs’, and unfortunately for Audi, three of its offerings were at the very bottom of that list. The e-tron scored the highest of the three, as the car critic gave it a 76 out of 100.

That score allowed the e-tron to get in a three-way tie for sixth place. The other two SUVs that were tied for sixth place were the Land Rover Range Rover Sport and the Volvo XC90.

 The e-tron is an EV, and it starts at about $71,000. Its powertrain is a high point as it gets 355 hp as standard. That being said, it only has a max range of 226 miles, and that’s very low for an EV. Unsurprisingly, that was an area that owners didn’t like about the SUV. And while it does have a luxurious and well-insulated cabin, its interior has some flaws. For example, the infotainment system isn’t great, and it has below-average cabin storage space.

2. 2023 Audi Q8

The Q8 followed the e-tron closely, as the site gave it a score of 75 out of 100. This put it in seventh place out of eight. It starts at about $72,000, and it’s likely not worth its price tag for many drivers. As with most other luxury SUVs, the Q8’s interior is a highlight as it’s comfortable and protected from the noise of the road. 

The German automaker gave it some good engine options too. It starts with a 3.0-liter turbo V6, and it gets 335 hp. There are two V8 options, and the most powerful gets 591 hp. However, the Q8’s fuel economy is terrible, and that’s an area that owners didn’t like about it. At best, it gets 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on highways, for 21 mpg combined.

3. 2023 Audi Q7

The Q7, meanwhile, is larger than the e-tron and the Q8 as it comes with three rows of seats as standard. It’s also on the cheaper side, as it starts at about $58,000. However, it has the lowest score in the segment, as it received a 72 out of 100. Once again, the Q7’s pros and cons are similar to the e-tron and the Q8’s.

Its interior is nice and luxurious, though the third-row is cramped and thus, it’s only suitable for kids and small adults. It starts with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder that gets 248 hp, and Audi offers options, including a 500-hp V8.

However, despite being a smaller engine, the four-cylinder still has a bad fuel economy, and this is a common complaint that drivers had with the car. Just like the Q8, the Q7 only gets about 21 mpg combined.

This BMW SUV is a much better option than those Audis

The midsize luxury SUV that came in at first place was the BMW X6. It received a score of 83 out of 100, and that allowed it to beat midsize luxury SUVs from other popular automakers, such as the Porsche Cayenne and the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

It starts with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 that gets 335 hp. BMW offers engine options for the car, and unsurprisingly, the X6’s driving experience was its highest-rated aspect. 

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